Honda of Concord would like to celebrate Black History Month of 2012 by educating our followers and customers about the importance of those African Americans who have dedicated their lives to the design, manufacture, service, and sales of automobiles.

We would like to acknowledge the Black Female Lifestyle Website, Madame Noire, for these top executives and contributors.  In addition, this information can be found in the book, Driven: A Tribute to African American Achievements in the Auto Industry.

First up is Ed Welburn, Vice President of Global Design at General Motors.

In 2003, Ed Welburn was announced as the sixth design chief in GMâ??s 95-year history. Welburn, 59, began his GM career in 1972 as an associate designer in the advanced design studios, and held various positions at Oldsmobile, Saturn and Opel. In his previous post as executive director in charge of body-on-frame architectures for GM Design,  which he held since 2001, Welburn was responsible for three body-on-frame studios that have overseen the design of trucks as the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy SSR and Hummer H2.

â??This is part of a renaissance for General Motors. We have 10 design centers around the world and they are running flat out designing new products for the company. The whole team has been energized by all the changes that have been happening. They get energized, we do better work. They do better work and the whole company gets energized,â?? Welburn has said.